CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Distributions paid to redeemable non-controlling interest	$ 16	$ 16
Change in total net income (loss), Redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 16	$ 17

Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders, Redeemable

No definition available.

Name:	fdc_NoncontrollingInterestDecreasefromDistributionstoNoncontrollingInterestHoldersRedeemable
Namespace Prefix:	fdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration